The National tribune., 1887-05-19
CHICKAMAUGA.
The Troops That Successfully Resisted the Charge
Of IOngstreets Veterans.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: i have no
ticed a number Of inquiries IN THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE during the past year asd previous as
10 what battery defended the gap at Chicka-
manga on Sept 20, 1868, caused by the move
ment Of Woods Division 10 the left. In reply
% Comrade Doyle permit me TO say that the
battery mentioned was not entitled 10 all the
credit OF hurting back Longstreets Virginia
veterans. There was brigade and a regiment
OF mounted infantry in that gap as well. The
brigade was known 10 all the army as Milder's
Brigade, and the regiment unattached was the
39th Ind. Md Inf, under command Of Col.
| i. j. Harrison. The 39th was attached 10, or
rather belonged 10. McCook's command, aud
came on to the battlefield on the night of the
18Th, reaching the Springs about p. m. The
men NJ once filled their own canteens and all
they could get belonging to other troops, and
until after i o'clock a. m. Of the Goth were
engaged IN carrying water TO Davis's and
Woods Divisions.
On the morning of the Goth, about daylight,
we once more filled the empty canteens we
had received from our infantry, and when the
battle opened We're engaged i'm distributing
them along the line Of battle. We were at about
3 o'clock ordered TO take position on the left Of
Gen. Wilder's Brigade, in the rear Of Gen.
Rosecrans's headquarters and covering the am
munition train, which we at once did. A few
minutes after il o'clock an Aid Of Gen.
then Gen. Wilder, with an order to move our
dismounted men Nos. i, 2 and 3 Of each fle)
across the valley aud up the hill TO the support
of Capt Lilly's Ind. battery. The 39th, being
nearest the battery, at once started on double
quick, followed by Wilder's Brigade. As we
started up the hill on which the battery was
stationed, another Aid gave our commander
Gen. ROsocrans's orders TO hold the hill at ali
hazards until the train was well on the way TO
Chattanooga. Maj. ]. ID. Evans was leading
the regiment, and as the head Of my company
"a reached the brow of the hill gave the COM
mands =" On the left into line!-Fire at Will"
The rebels were not exceeding 80 yards if
SO far, from Capt. Lilly's guns when the COM
mand was given, aud he was begging US TO
stand by the guns. The regiment came around
on the left company like a whip. followed at
once by the four regiments of Wilder's Bril-
gade, and the boys were getting in their work
with their Spencer rifles in grand style. Line
after line OF the Johnnies melted away like
grass before a prairie fire, and after advancing
a few steps they broke and fed. Gen. Wilder
and Col. Harrison ordered us TO hold our fire if
they came again until they gave command.
few moments suiliced for them TO reform
their shattered columns, and once more those
long lines of gray six columns deep advanced
al charge. Steadily they advanced, firing as
they came, to the point at which we had broken
their previous charge, and yet we had not
fred a shot. Suddenly the sharp command
Fire rang out, and in an instant the front
OF our line was a wall of fame against which
no living thing could advance
Again the rebels Of Longstreet broke and
fed across the open field 10 the protecting
timber. Three times more did Longstreet hurl
his Corps of Virginia veterans against our
single line Of battle, and each time his charge
was broken and hurled back in dismay and
confusion. Finally his men would not form
for another charge, and the flag Of think. the
33d Ala was advanced about half way from
their position TO ours and their officers called
on them TO rally on their colOrs. A vOlley
from our Spencers swept away colOr-bearer and
guard, aud a Lieutenant of the 18th Ind, under
cover Of our fire, went with small squad and
picked up the flag and safely brought it in.
About 100 p. IN. we received an order 10 fall
back TO our horses, remOunt and guard the
train TO Chattanooga which we did without
molestation from the rebels. IL was Capt.
Lilly's battery, supported by Wilders Brigade
and the Both Ind, that met Longstreet's 10000
veterans and held them at bay for two hours,
saving the ammunition-tran and the army
from humiliation; for had they captured the
train the fate Of the army was sealed. NV
recollection Of Wilder's Brigade is that il was
composed Of the 18th and I'D Ind, l23d aud
92d ILL.,, but am not sure as 10 the latter. i
don't think the l23d Ohio was in it, but OF one
thing am sure-no troops other than Wilder's,
the 39th Ind. and Lilly's battery were there
JAMES BURNS, Co. A, Both Ind. MID Inf,
Harper, Kan.